Sent abusive texts to his ex-partner

A 43-year-old man who sent threatening and abusive texts to his ex-partner was given a suspended prison sentence last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

Daryl Crooks, Pines Park, Lurgan, at an earlier court had admitted that between July 16 and August 13 this year, for the purpose of annoyance, inconvenience and needless anxiety he made improper use of a public telecommunications network.

For this he was sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for two years and fined £400.

The court also put in place a two year restraining order preventing him from harassing, intimidating or pestering the injured party.

The case had been adjourned from a previous hearing for a pre-sentence report.

The court heard that on August 14 at 3.40pm police went to an incident at an address in Lurgan and spoke to the injured party.

She said that Crooks had been outside her mother’s house and he had been verbally abusive to her mother. This was regarding ongoing contact with his seven-year-old son he had with his ex-partner.

A public prosecutor said that Crooks had sent text messages to the injured party.

In on he had threatened to ‘pull the head of f--king shoulders’ and in another said she was a ‘bitter twisted b—d’.

The prosecutor said that in another he said his son would be given a telling off, although he did not use that sort of language, and in a fourth text expletives were used towards the injured party.

He added that she was very upset and frightened and feared he would become violent towards her.

Crooks said he was angry at her handling of a medical situation which affected their son.

A barrister representing the defendant said his client accepted the texts were ‘unsavoury and nasty’.

He explained a relationship had broken down and there was a child involved and residual bitterness between Crooks and the injured party. The lawyer said there was a sensitive medical issue involving the child and his client did not believe his ex-partner was taking it as seriously as she should.